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Iowa Caucus 2016: Ted Cruz Wins Republican Nomination in First Vote

Diane A. Wade
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Iowa Caucus 2016: Ted Cruz Wins Republican Nomination in First Vote

Ted Cruz has won the first vote of the US 2016 presidential election in the Iowa Republican caucuses.

The Texas senator declared as he railed against Washington, lobbyists and the media: “Tonight is a victory for courageous conservatives.”

Ted Cruz, 45, took 28% of the Republican vote, beating his rivals Donald Trump (24%) and Marco Rubio (23%).

Votes in the Democratic race are still being counted, and some media outlets have declared it a dead heat.

With 95% of results confirmed, Hillary Clinton clung to the narrowest of leads over Bernie Sanders and told supporters she was “breathing a sigh of relief”.

Hillary Clinton stopped short of declaring victory, and her rival, a 74-year-old senator from Vermont, said it was a “virtual tie”.Ted Cruz wins Iowa caucuses 2016

No such ambiguity from Republican victor Ted Cruz, whose triumph was reward for the months he spent criss-crossing the state to woo its influential conservative and evangelical leaders.

As country music blared across the loud speaker at his Des Moines rally, Ted Cruz, who has been a thorn in the side of his party, relished his victory.

“Iowa has sent notice that the Republican nominee and the next president of the United States will not be chosen by the media, will not be chosen by the Washington establishment,” he said.

“Tonight is a victory for courageous conservatives across Iowa and all across this great nation.”

Donald Trump congratulated the Texas senator and said he was “honored” by the second-place finish.

Marco Rubio, who has struggled to gain support in recent months, has performed far better than expected, and finished in third place – just one percentage point behind Donald Trump.

Meanwhile, two candidates are bowing out.

Democrat Martin O’Malley, former Maryland governor, will suspend his campaign – narrowing the field to two competitive candidates.

On the Republican side, Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee tweeted that he too would suspend his campaign.

Iowa has an unusual election system based on caucuses, which involve people gathering at private homes, schools and other public buildings across the state.

Democratic voters divide themselves into groups based on their preferred candidate, but the Republican caucus process is more like a traditional ballot.

Over the coming months, the other 49 states as well as US territories will vote for the party nominees.

Each states’ delegates will be tallied and a nominee will become apparent towards the middle of the year.

In November, the US will pick who its next president will be.

The new president will assume office in January 2017.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtETHOXvGvo

Twitter Shares Drop amid Silver Lake Deal Speculation

Clyde K. Valle
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Twitter Shares Drop amid Silver Lake Deal Speculation

Twitter’s shares have dropped after major gains earlier in the day following reports that a deal with private equity firm Silver Lake is not in the works.

The social media site’s shares shot up 11.6% in the first hours of trading, but have dropped to just a 5% increase.

The jump came after a report that tech investor Marc Andreessen and investment firm Silver Lake Partners were considering a deal with Twitter.

Hours later, Fortune reported Silver Lake was not interested in any deal.Twitter shares Silver Lake deal speculation

“Silver Lake has no interest in acquiring even a slice of Twitter,” the Fortune report said.

Neither story reported any details of the potential deal or the names of the sources, but the speculation was enough to send Twitter’s share price bouncing.

The company has been struggling to boost its profits.

Twitter is looking to appoint two new board members and a new chief marketing officer ahead of its quarterly profit report on February 10.

The company’s shares are down more than 60% from their April highs.

Twitter has struggled to attract new users, leading investors to question whether it has the staying power and growth potential of rival social media sites.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fvrxogGdXY

Rolls-Royce Signs $2.7 Billion Deal with Norwegian

Clyde K. Valle
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Rolls-Royce Signs $2.7 Billion Deal with Norwegian

Rolls-Royce has announced a $2.7 billion deal with Norwegian Air Shuttle.

The company will manufacture and service Boeing 787 Dreamliner engines for the low-cost airline.

Rolls-Royce will provide its Trent 1000 engines for 19 new Dreamliners.

The February 1 deal is some welcome positive news for Rolls-Royce, which has seen its share price tumble by more than a third over the last year.Rolls Royce deal with Norwegian

Rolls-Royce is in the middle of a shake-up under new chief executive Warren East.

Warren East has changed senior management at Rolls-Royce and changed the structure of the company in an attempt to make it more transparent.

The company’s reorganization was a response to a series of profit warnings.

Under the deal with Norwegian, Rolls-Royce will provide its TotalCare service contracts for the new aircraft, as well as for the engines on 11 other 787 aircraft leased by Norwegian.

Norwegian has options to buy 10 more Dreamliners, which would also be powered by Rolls-Royce engines.

Ramzan Kadyrov Posts Video Showing Mikhail Kasyanov in Rifle Crosshairs

Roy Siemens
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Ramzan Kadyrov Posts Video Showing Mikhail Kasyanov in Rifle Crosshairs

Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has posted an Instagram video showing Russian opposition politician Mikhail Kasyanov in a sniper’s crosshairs.

Former PM Mikhail Kasyanov is a high-profile critic of President Vladimir Putin, in the opposition RPR-Parnas party.

Recently Ramzan Kadyrov called Vladimir Putin’s critics “enemies” and “traitors”.

Russian opposition politicians have described the posting as a murder threat.

Ramzan Kadyrov said Mikhail Kasyanov was seeking cash in Strasbourg for the opposition.

The Chechen leader warned: “Whoever doesn’t get it will get it!”Mikhail Kasyanov rifle crosshairs

In March 2015, Ramzan Kadyrov spoke out on Instagram about the assassination of opposition leader Boris Nemtsov in Moscow. That message defended one of the Chechens charged over the shooting.

A day later, Vladimir Putin gave Ramzan Kadyrov a top award.

Boris Nemtsov was among several well-known opponents of Vladimir Putin murdered in the past decade.

Ramzan Kadyrov runs Chechnya with an iron fist – his private militia has been accused of widespread human rights abuses, including torture and assassination.

He has close ties to Vladimir Putin, who encouraged him to stamp out a separatist insurgency in Chechnya. Thousands of civilians died in the North Caucasus republic when Russian troops fought the rebels there in the 1990s.

The new video is the latest in a series of threatening messages from Ramzan Kadyrov against Kremlin critics, whom he accuses of working for the West.

It shows Mikhail Kasyanov talking to Vladimir Kara-Murza, a journalist who runs the pro-democracy opposition movement Open Russia. The movement was launched by exiled oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky.

The video was posted late on January 31 and has more than 16,000 “Likes”.

Mikhail Kasyanov says he sees it as a direct death threat and will demand a criminal investigation.

Ilya Yashin, who co-chairs RPR-Parnas with Mikhail Kasyanov, called the video “an open threat to murder Kasyanov”.

Another opposition leader, anti-corruption campaigner Alexei Navalny, echoed that view.

On Facebook, Alexei Navalny said: “There is no longer any doubt that all such statements in recent weeks and specifically this one were approved by Putin and the Kremlin, and quite probably were inspired by them too.”

One theory discussed on Russian social media is that he is being used by the Kremlin to intimidate its critics – particularly as growing economic problems raise the potential for protest.

Zika Outbreak: WHO Holds Emergency Meeting in Geneva

Kathryn R. Bown
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Zika Outbreak: WHO Holds Emergency Meeting in Geneva

The World Health Organization is holding an emergency meeting in Geneva to discuss the “explosive” spread of the Zika virus.

The meeting will decide whether to declare a global emergency.

According to WHO officials, Zika as moving “from a mild threat to one of alarming proportions”.

Most cases will have no symptoms but the virus has been linked to brain abnormalities in thousands of babies in Brazil.

Meanwhile Brazilian officials have been given permission to break into properties that could be harboring mosquito breeding grounds.

They will be able to force entry when the place is abandoned or when nobody is there to give access to the house.

Declaring a “public health emergency of international concern” would establish Zika as a serious global threat and lead to money, resources and scientific expertise being thrown at the problem both in South America and in laboratories around the world.WHO Zika meeting

The WHO’s actions are under intense scrutiny after its handling of the outbreak of Ebola in West Africa.

Its efforts to prevent the spread of the virus were widely criticized and it was deemed to have been too slow to declare an emergency.

At the meeting, experts in disease control, virology and vaccine development will brief WHO director general Dr. Margaret Chan.

Last week, Margaret Chan said: “The level of concern is high, as is the level of uncertainty.

“Questions abound – we need to get some answers quickly.

“For all these reasons, I have decided to convene an emergency committee.

“I am asking the committee for advice on the appropriate level of international concern and for recommended measures that should be undertaken in affected countries and elsewhere.”

Since the mosquito-borne disease was first detected in Brazil in May 2015, the Zika virus has spread to more than 20 countries.

Credit Suisse and Barclays Fined $154 Million over Dark Pool Operations

Clyde K. Valle
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Credit Suisse and Barclays Fined $154 Million over Dark Pool Operations

Credit Suisse and Barclays have been fined a total of $154 million over their “dark pool” trading operations in the US.

“Dark pool” operations allow investors to trade large blocks of shares but keep the prices private.

Barclays has admitted misleading investors and violating securities law in the way it operated the pool. The bank will pay a $70 million fine.

Credit Suisse will pay $60 million and another $24.3 million relating to other violations.

The fines will be split between the State of New York and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

The New York Attorney General and the SEC have both censured the two banks for their misconduct.Credit Suisse dark pool fine

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said: “These cases mark the first major victory in the fight against fraud in dark pool trading that began when we first sued Barclays.”

He added that “co-ordinated and aggressive government action” had led to “admissions of wrongdoing, and meaningful reforms to protect investors from predatory, high-frequency traders”.

“We will continue to take the fight to those who aim to rig the system and those who look the other way,” Eric Schneiderman said.

Andrew Ceresney, director of the SEC’s enforcement division said: “Dark pools have a significant role in today’s equity marketplace, and the firms that run these venues must ensure that they do not make mis-statements to subscribers about their material operations.”

Credit Suisse will neither admit nor deny the allegations.

A spokeswoman said the bank was “pleased to have resolved these matters” with the SEC and the New York attorney general.

A Barclays representative said: “The agreement will enable us to focus all of our efforts on serving our clients.”

In 2015, Barclays lost an attempt to have the case dismissed.

Part of the point of dark pool trading systems is to allow institutions to sell large numbers of shares privately, helping to make sure their actions don’t result in a cut in the price they can get.

Japan Stock Market Continues to Trade Higher on BoJ Negative Interest Rate

Clyde K. Valle
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Japan Stock Market Continues to Trade Higher on BoJ Negative Interest Rate

Japan’s stock market traded sharply higher on February 1 as investors continued to cheer January 29 surprise move by the central bank to cut its rates.

Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 closed up 1.98% to 17,865.23 – its highest close since early January.

The benchmark closed up almost 3% on January 29 after the BoJ cut its rates to -0.1%.

The move is designed to spur inflation, investment and spending. Analysts said it was a turning point for the bank.

Elsewhere, manufacturing activity in China, the world’s second biggest economy, shrank more than expected in January from a month earlier, which dented confidence among investors.Japan shares

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index closed 0.5% lower at 19,595 in afternoon trade, while the Shanghai Composite was down 1.8% at 2,688.

China’s official Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) came in at 49.4 for the month compared to December’s reading of 49.7. The data marks the sixth month of contraction in the sector.

Expectations were for a reading of 49.6 for the month. A reading of above 50 indicates activity has grown, while a reading of below 50 indicates activity has contracted.

In South Korea, the Kospi index closed up 0.67% to 1,924.82, reversing earlier losses.

Disappointing trade numbers released on February 1 showed exports contracted 18.5% in January from a year earlier. It marks the 13th month in a row the nation’s exports have shrunk and is the worst result for exports since mid 2009.

Imports also contracted for the period by 20.1%.

In Australia, the ASX 200 finished the day up 0.76% at 5,043.60 following gains in the US.

Iowa Caucus 2016: Candidates Make Final Pitch

Diane A. Wade
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Iowa Caucus 2016: Candidates Make Final Pitch

This year’s presidential candidates are to make final pitches to people in Iowa, where the first votes for party nominations will take place later.

Polls suggest that Republican Donald Trump has a narrow lead over Texas Senator Ted Cruz but both are well ahead of the others.

In the Democratic field, the race is slightly tighter, with Hillary Clinton edging ahead of Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.

Each party’s nominee will contest the presidential election in November.

Over the weekend, the candidates barnstormed the sparsely populated Midwestern state of Iowa in an attempt to court undecided voters.

Campaigning is expected to continue until voting starts at 19:00 local time on February 1.Iowa caucus 2016

Candidates are hoping to triumph in this first electoral test because victory can spark campaign momentum as voting moves to the other states.

Among the wide Republican field, recent polling suggests that Donald Trump has a comfortable, though not certain, lead over his main rival, Ted Cruz.

The Democrats’ far smaller field – three candidates as opposed to 11 – appears to be more competitive.

Frontrunner Hillary Clinton has a commanding lead nationally but in Iowa she is narrowly ahead of self-proclaimed Democratic socialist Bernie Sanders.

Iowa has an unusual election system called a caucus, which involves people gathering at sites across the state at 19:00 local time on February 1.

Democratic voters divide themselves into groups based on their preferred candidate but the Republican caucus process is more like a traditional ballot.

The last Republican winner in Iowa who won the party’s nomination was George W. Bush 16 years ago.

One issue that could have implications in Iowa is the weather.

The National Weather Service is currently forecasting a winter storm to strike the area on Monday night.

Candidates are worried that the incoming storm could prevent their voters turning out earlier in the evening.

Donald Trump joked with his supporters on January 30, saying: “You’re from Iowa! Are you afraid of snow?”

Iowan law mandates that it be the first “state, territory, or any other group” to select delegates in the presidential nomination

This first vote in Iowa will be followed in the weeks ahead by more ballots in the 49 other states plus US territories.

Each party’s nominee will be chosen by the summer, and the next president will be elected in November.

Benoit Violier Dead: World’s Best Chef Dies in Switzerland Aged 44

Nancy Clayson
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Benoit Violier Dead: World’s Best Chef Dies in Switzerland Aged 44

Chef Benoit Violier, whose restaurant was named the best in the world in December 2015, has been found dead at his home in Switzerland.

French-born Benoit Violier, 44, ran the Restaurant de l’Hotel de Ville in Crissier, near the city of Lausanne.

The restaurant earned three Michelin stars and came top in France’s La Liste ranking of the world’s 1,000 best eateries.

Swiss police said Benoit Violier is believed to have killed himself.

The Swiss news website 24 Heures said that Benoit Violier had been due to attend the launch of the new Michelin guide in Paris on February 1.Benoit Violier dead at 44

The chef’s death comes some six months after that of Philippe Rochat, his mentor and predecessor at the Restaurant de l’Hotel de Ville.

Having worked at the restaurant since 1996, Benoit Violier took it over along with his wife Brigitte in 2012, before obtaining Swiss nationality.

A keen hunter, Benoit Violier was known for signature dishes including game and produced a weighty book on game meat in 2015.

Accepting the French award, given by France’s foreign ministry as an alternative to the World’s Best 50 Restaurants prize, Benoit Violier said it was an “exceptional” honor.

Swiss chef Fredy Girardet, who also received three Michelin stars, told 24 Heures that he was “dumbfounded” by the news.

“He was a brilliant man,” he said.

“Such talent, and an amazing capacity for work. He was so kind, with so many qualities. He gave the impression of being perfect.”

Australian Open 2016: Novak Djokovic Wins His Sixth Title

Clyde K. Valle
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Australian Open 2016: Novak Djokovic Wins His Sixth Title

Novak Djokovic beat Andy Murray to win his sixth Australian Open title.

The world No 1 won 6-1 7-5 7-6 (7-3) to claim his sixth Melbourne title, tying the record of Australia’s Roy Emerson.

Novak Djokovic, 28, also draws level with tennis greats Bjorn Borg and Rod Laver on 11 Grand Slam titles.

Andy Murray, 28, has now lost all five Australian Open finals he has played, four of them against Novak Djokovic.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

The Scot becomes only the second man – behind his former coach Ivan Lendl at the US Open – to lose five finals at the same Grand Slam since the open era began in 1968.

Andy Murray was expected to head straight to the airport after the final to return to London and his wife Kim, who is due to give birth to their first child in the next two weeks.

Novak Djokovic has now won four of the past five major tournaments, including three in a row, and will try to complete his career Grand Slam with a first French Open title in June 2015.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQgQuFtjzSg

Rocco Zito Death: Former Mob Leader Shot Dead in Toronto

Diane A. Wade
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Rocco Zito Death: Former Mob Leader Shot Dead in Toronto

Former Mafia boss Rocco Zito has been shot dead at his home in Toronto, Canada.

Rocco Zito, 87, had been a senior member of the notorious ‘Ndrangheta, or Calabrian mafia, based in southern Italy, according to Canadian media.

The man was once one of Toronto’s most powerful mafia leaders, the Toronto Sun reported.

Rocco Zito’s son-in-law, Domenico Scopelliti, has been charged with murder after turning himself in to police.

Police said officers arrived at Rocco Zito’s home on January 29 to find a man with gunshot wounds. Attempts were made to resuscitate him but he died of his injuries.Rocco Zito death Toronto

Officials did not immediately release the victim’s name.

Domenico Scopelliti, 51, was named as a suspect and he surrendered to authorities on January 30, a police statement said.

He later appeared in court where he was charged with first-degree murder.

Rocco Zito was born in Fiumara, Calabria, Italy, in 1928 and moved to Canada in the mid-1950s.

He was reported to have had ties with branches of the ‘Ndrangheta in New York, Montreal and Italy.

Italian police say the ‘Ndrangheta operates the biggest cocaine smuggling network in Europe.

California Jail Break: Two Escapees Caught in San Francisco

Nancy Clayson
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California Jail Break: Two Escapees Caught in San Francisco

Two inmates who had been on the run from jail for more than a week have been caught by San Francisco.

Jonathan Tieu, 20, and Hossein Nayeri, 37, had fled from the Men’s Central Jail in Santa Ana on January 22.

The two cut through several layers of metal to break free from their dormitory and used a rope made of bed sheets to climb down from the roof.

Another escapee, Bac Duong, 43, surrendered to police in Santa Ana on January 29.California jail break 2016

Reports said he told officers the two other men had travelled north. They were eventually found some 410 miles further north from Santa Ana.

Police said a passer-by recognized the van which had been stolen after they escaped.

Hossein Nayeri was held after a brief chase, and when police returned to the van, they found Jonathan Tieu inside. Ammunition was found, but no weapons.

Before his escape, Bac Duong was being held on charges including attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon.

Jonathan Tieu had been charged with murder and attempted murder while Hossein Nayeri is accused of kidnapping, torture, aggravated mayhem and burglary.

On January 28, authorities arrested a female English teacher who they say helped the inmates escape.

White House 2016: NYT Announces Endorsements for Presidency

Diane A. Wade
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White House 2016: NYT Announces Endorsements for Presidency

The New York Times has announced its endorsements for this year’s presidential race.

The publication endorsed Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican John Kasich in their bids to become their parties’ presidential candidates.

Hillary Clinton, the liberal daily said in an editorial, is “one of the most broadly and deeply qualified candidates” in modern history.

An outsider in the Republican race, the NYT called John Kasich the “only plausible choice”.

The backing comes days before Iowa voters become first to make their pick.Hillary Clinton and John Kasich NYT endorsements

The NYT backed Hillary Clinton in her losing bid for the presidency against Barack Obama in 2008.

It had praise for Hillary Clinton’s main rival, Bernie Sanders, but the paper said he “does not have the breadth of experience or policy ideas that Mrs. Clinton offers”.

Assessing the Republican field, Saturday’s editorial gave a damning verdict on the two leading contenders.

Frontrunner Donald Trump “has neither experience in nor interest in learning about national security, defense or global trade”, the paper said. Ted Cruz “will say anything to win”.

Instead, the NYT plumped for Ohio Governor John Kasich as “the only plausible choice for Republicans tired of the extremism and inexperience on display in this race”.

John Kasich tweeted he was “proud” to gain the NYT‘s support, even though the paper has been a frequent focus of criticism for US conservatives.

Zika Outbreak: Pregnancy Cases Double in Colombia

Clyde K. Valle
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Zika Outbreak: Pregnancy Cases Double in Colombia

The Zika pregnancy cases have doubled in Colombia in just one week, officials said.

According to Colombia’s National Health Institute, almost 2,000 pregnant women now have the virus out of the more than 20,000 people infected across the country.

The mosquito-borne virus has been linked to babies being born with abnormally small brains.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned Zika is “spreading explosively”, predicting up to 4 million cases this year.

Colombia says it expects the overall number of people to be infected to rise to more than 500,000 by the end of 2016.

On February 1, the WHO meets to decide whether Zika should be treated as a global emergency.

Brazil has been worst affected by the outbreak, followed by Colombia, but more than 20 other countries have seen cases.

Jamaica and Peru reported their first confirmed cases over the weekend, with Peruvian President Ollanta Humala urging calm and stressing that the patient contracted the disease outside of the country.Colombia Zika pregnancy

Zika symptoms are mild, causing a low fever, joint pain, headaches, a rash and conjunctivitis.

Concern surrounds a surge in babies born with microcephaly, or abnormally small heads, from mothers infected with Zika. A link has not been confirmed.

Colombia has also said it has seen an increase in cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome, a rare disorder that can cause temporary paralysis, that has also been linked to Zika.

The Zika outbreak has sparked health warnings and eradication campaigns, with Brazil deploying troops and Colombia launching a mass fumigation campaign to fight mosquitoes.

Colombia and other Latin American countries have advised women to delay getting pregnant for the moment.

Turkey Accuses Russia of Violating Its Airspace Again

Diane A. Wade
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Turkey Accuses Russia of Violating Its Airspace Again

Turkey is accusing Russia of again violating its airspace and warned it would “face consequences” if such infringements continue.

The Turkish foreign ministry said a Russian jet flew into its airspace on the border with Syria on January 29. Moscow described the claim as “baseless propaganda”.

Tensions between Turkey and Russia have been high since November, when Turkey shot down a Russian jet.

Russia has been carrying out air strikes in Syria since September.

It has been targeting forces fighting the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, its ally.Russia violates Turkey airspace

In a statement, the Turkish foreign ministry said a Russian SU-34 jet crossed into Turkish airspace at 11:46 local time on January 29, ignoring several warnings made in Russian and English.

It said the ministry had summoned the Russian ambassador in Ankara to “strongly protest at and condemn” the incident.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned on January 30 that Russia would “have to face consequences if it keeps up such violations”.

“Such irresponsible steps do not benefit either the Russian Federation, or Russia-NATO relations, or regional and global peace,” he told reporters.

Recep Tyyip Erdogan said he had asked repeatedly for a meeting with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, without success.

On January 30, NATO – of which Turkey is a member – urged Russia “to act responsibility and to fully respect NATO airspace” and “take all necessary measures to ensure that such violations do not happen again”.

Relations between Russia and Turkey, a vocal opponent of Bashar al-Assad, plummeted after Turkish F-16s shot down a Russian SU-24 on November 24.

Turkey said the plane intruded into its airspace and ignored repeated warnings to leave.

Russia insisted the jet had never crossed over from Syrian territory and did not receive any warnings.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Vladimir Putin embarked on a war of words and Russia introduced a raft of sanctions designed to damage Turkey’s economy.

Australian Open 2016: Angelique Kerber Wins Her First Grand Slam Title

Clyde K. Valle
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Australian Open 2016: Angelique Kerber Wins Her First Grand Slam Title

Angelique Kerber stunned world No 1 Serena Williams in three sets to win her first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open.

The 28-year-old has become the first German since Steffi Graf in 1999 to win a Grand Slam title.

Angelique Kerber, seeded seventh, won a thrilling final 6-4 3-6 6-4 at Melbourne Park.

The 28-year-old is the first German to win a major singles title since Steffi Graf at the 1999 French Open.

Serena Williams, 34, was beaten for just the fifth time in 26 Grand Slam finals, and the American missed the chance to tie Steffi Graf’s open-era record of 22 titles.

Angelique Kerber, who saved a match point in her first-round win over Misaki Doi, will move up to No 2 in the world rankings.

She had won just one of six previous matches against Serena Williams and was making her Grand Slam final debut, but she was the better player over two hours and eight minutes on Rod Laver Arena.

Photo Getty Images
Photo Getty Images

She led Serena Williams in the ace count until the latter stages, limiting her to just seven overall, while the American racked up 46 errors to just 13 by Kerber.

Serena Williams made 23 mistakes in the first set alone – sparking memories of her desperately nervous display in losing to Roberta Vinci at the US Open in September 2015 – and Angelique Kerber took full advantage to claim it after 39 minutes.

However, the defending champion cut her error count to just five in the second set and claimed it thanks to a single break in game four.

Angelique Kerber twice moved ahead in the decider and a stunning sixth game saw the German produce two fine drop shots and win a breathtaking 19-stroke rally to cling on to her serve and edge closer to victory.

Nerves took hold and she was broken while serving for the match, but she launched into the Williams serve once again and clinched the title when the world number one sent a volley long.

Angelique Kerber said afterwards that being able to say she was a Grand Slam champion “sounds crazy”.

“It’s my dream come. I worked for this my whole life,” said the German.

“It’s been such an up and down two weeks, I was match point down in the first round and had one foot in the plane to Germany.

“Now I have beaten Serena and won the championship. I have so many emotions, so many thoughts, but all of them good ones.”

Serena Williams was gracious in defeat, telling Angelique Kerber: “Angie, congratulations. You deserve this and I’m so happy for you. I really hope you enjoy this moment.”

Israeli Griffon Vulture Cleared of Spying in Lebanon

Roy Siemens
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Israeli Griffon Vulture Cleared of Spying in Lebanon

The Israeli vulture detained in Lebanon on suspicion of spying for Israel has been returned home after UN peacekeepers intervened.

The huge vulture, which has a 6ft 5in wing span, flew over the border from an Israeli game reserve and was caught by Lebanese villagers on January 26.

They became suspicious as the griffon vulture had a tracking device attached to its tail.

The bird is part of a conservation project to reintroduce raptors to the Middle East.

Wildlife officials say the vulture was brought from Spain in 2015 and set free about a month ago in the Gamla Nature Reserve in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights.

Tel Aviv University is involved in tracking the bird, and as well as a GPS transmitter, it had tags on its wings and an engraved metal ring on its leg saying: “Tel Aviv Univ Israel”.Israel griffon vulture detained in Lebanon

Wildlife officials in Israel were alerted to its capture when photos of the tied-up bird appeared on social media.

“In a discreet operation with the Lebanese and with the great help of UN forces and the UN liaison unit, the Israel Nature and Parks Authority was able to return the vulture that was caught a few days ago by villagers of Bint Jbeil, Lebanon,” an Israeli statement released on January 29 said.

The Lebanese media says the villagers freed the vulture after it became clear it was not on a spying mission.

After its ordeal the vulture was weak and was being treated for minor injuries, officials said.

However, it is not the first time a griffon vulture has been taken to be an agent of the Israeli spy agency Mossad.

Saudi Arabia captured one, also with a Tel Aviv University tracker, in the desert city of Hyaal in 2011, sparking rumors of a “Zionist plot” that were dismissed by Israeli officials.

Hillary Clinton Email Scandal: 22 Messages Contain Top Secret Information

Diane A. Wade
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Hillary Clinton Email Scandal: 22 Messages Contain Top Secret Information

According to the State Department, 22 emails sent through Hillary Clinton’s unsecured home server while she was secretary of state contained government secrets.

The messages were “top secret” and could not be released, the State Department adds.

Spokesman John Kirby said the emails were not marked classified at the time they were sent.

Hillary Clinton’s use of a personal email as secretary of state has dogged her bid for the US presidency.

The former first lady, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for the 2016 election, has been under fire for using a private computer server for work emails while in office.

On Hillary Clinton’s request, thousands of those emails have been released by the State Department, but this is the first time her messages have been labeled classified at any level.Hillary Clinton email scandal 2016

Her campaign reacted angrily to the announcement, demanding that the emails be released in full.

“This appears to be over-classification run amok,” it said in statement.

It comes three days before Hillary Clinton competes in the Iowa presidential caucuses – the first time the public will cast their votes in the run-up to November’s election.

Messages were marked “top secret” because they would cause “exceptionally grave” damage to national security if disclosed, the State Department said.

Intelligence officials told the Associated Press that the 37 pages being withheld concerned so-called “special access programs” – clandestine projects such as drone strikes or government eavesdropping.

It was unclear whether Hillary Clinton sent “top secret” messages or only received the information.

Previously, sensitive information has been redacted from the published messages, but John Kirby said the “top secret” emails would not be released, even in part.

Hillary Clinton’s opponents have accused her of putting US security at risk by using an unsecured computer system.

She has admitted that her decision to use a private email server at her New York home was a mistake.

The State Department released another batch of Hilalry Clinton’s emails on January 29.

The department has yet to release about 7,000 pages of emails from Hillary Clinton’s private server.

Officials in the State Department have asked for additional time to vet the messages because of the recent snowstorm that hit Washington.

They have asked to release the final batch messages on February 29, which is after the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Jr7J_IOnj8

1MDB Scandal: $4 Billion Stolen from Malaysian State-Owned Fund

Diane A. Wade
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1MDB Scandal: $4 Billion Stolen from Malaysian State-Owned Fund

According to a Swiss prosecutor, about $4 billion may have been stolen from the Malaysian state-owned fund 1MDB.

The 1MDB fund was set up in 2009 to pay for major new economic and social developments in the country.

In 2015, Swiss authorities opened an investigation into 1MDB after it amassed more than $11 billion of debt.

Switzerland’s attorney general said on January 29 there were “serious indications that funds have been misappropriated from Malaysian state companies”.

Some of the money, the office of Michael Lauber said, had been transferred to Swiss accounts held by Malaysian former public officials and current and former public officials from the United Arab Emirates.

“To date, however, the Malaysian companies concerned have made no comment on the losses they are believed to have incurred,” the attorney general’s statement said.1MDB scandal Malaysia 2016

Michael Lauber called on Malaysian authorities to give full judicial assistance to their Swiss counterparts.

A Swiss investigation into 1MDB was opened last year, citing “suspected corruption of public foreign officials, dishonest management of public interests and money laundering”.

In a statement on January 30, 1MDB said it “remains committed to fully co-operating with any lawful authority and investigation”, but had not yet heard from any foreign legal authorities.

Regulators in the US and Hong Kong are also reported to be investigating 1MDB.

The 1MDB’s advisory board is chaired by Malaysian PM Najib Razak, who launched the fund soon after taking office in 2009.

In July 2015, Malaysia’s then-Attorney General Abdul Gani Patail linked a donation of $681 million made to Najib Razak’s account with companies and bodies which had ties to 1MDB.

Abdul Gani Patail was replaced, and, after an investigation, his successor last week cleared Najib Razak of corruption saying that the money was a personal donation by the Saudi royal family to the prime minister’s private bank account.

“I am satisfied that there is no evidence to show that the donation was a form of gratification given corruptly,” said Attorney-General Mohamed Apandi Ali.

Most of the money was later returned, he said.

Malaysia’s anti-corruption commission said it would seek a review of the attorney-general’s decision.

David Bowie Will: Iman and Kids Share $100 Million Estate

Sonia Pantiss
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David Bowie Will: Iman and Kids Share $100 Million Estate

David Bowie’s $100 million estate will go to his widow, Iman, and his kids, according to the singer’s will which has been filed in New York.

Iman was left $50 million along with the home they shared in New York. The rest is shared between David Bowie’s son and daughter.

It was also revealed that David Bowie had requested that his ashes be scattered in Bali in a Buddhist ritual.

David Bowie died of cancer on January 10 at the age of 69.

The singer’s will was filed in a Manhattan court on January 29 under David Bowie’s legal name, David Robert Jones.David Bowie will

The star’s personal assistant, Corinne Schwab, was left $2 million and another $1 million went to a former nanny, Marion Skene.

David Bowie’s son, Duncan Jones, and daughter, Alexandria Zahra Jones, both received 25% of the estate. Alexandria was also left a home in upstate New York.

In the will, written in 2004, David Bowie asked that he be cremated in Bali but if that was “not practical”, then his ashes be scattered there anyway “in accordance with the Buddhist rituals”. It is not clear if the scattering has already taken place.

David Bowie’s body was cremated on January 12 in New Jersey, according to a death certificate filed with the will.

At the time it was reported that no family or friends were present at the ceremony, in accordance with the singer’s wishes.

Princess Cristina of Spain Loses Appeal in Tax Evasion

Diane A. Wade
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Princess Cristina of Spain Loses Appeal in Tax Evasion

Princess Cristina of Spain has lost an appeal to have the two charges she faces of tax evasion dropped.

A court in Palma ruled that Princess Cristina must stand trial in a case involving her husband’s business dealings.

If found guilty, the sister of King Felipe could face a maximum of eight years in jail.

Princess Cristina has denied knowledge of the alleged embezzlement scam that also involves her husband, Inaki Urdangarin, and 16 other defendants. They all deny the charges.

The case was launched in 2010 and has become highly symbolic of perceived corruption among Spain’s elites, including the royal family.

In 2015, King Felipe stripped his sister and Inaki Urdangarin of their titles, the Duke and Duchess of Palma de Mallorca.

Princess Cristina now lives in Switzerland, but remains the sixth in line to the Spanish throne and is the first member of the royal family to go on trial.

The princess’s lawyers argued that as public prosecutors had refused to press charges against her, the counts should be dismissed.

The three judges agreed to continue with the prosecution using the evidence filed by the anti-corruption group, Manos Limpias, meaning “Clean Hands”.Princess Cristina tax evasion

The charges relate to the real estate company Aizoon that she owned with her husband, a former Olympic handball medalist.

Princess Cristina is accused of making personal use of Aizoon funds for paying for clothes and dance lessons for the couple’s children as well as work on the couple’s Barcelona mansion, which reduced the company’s taxable profits.

Inaki Urdangarin is alleged to have used the non-profit Noos Institute sports foundation he ran as a vehicle to win falsely inflated contracts from regional government bodies, before channeling the money to personal accounts via tax havens.

Noos is alleged to have received more than €6 million ($6.5 million) of public money, most of it from the Balearic Islands and Valencia regional governments.

If found guilty, Inaki Urdangarin could face 19 years and six months in jail.

Hearings into the case will resume next month in Palma.

US Economy Slows in Q4 2015

Clyde K. Valle
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US Economy Slows in Q4 2015

The US economy slowed sharply in Q4 of 2015, growing with an annualized rate of 0.7% comparing with the same quarter a year ago, official figures show.

The rate of growth marks a sharp slowdown from the 2% growth recorded in Q3 of 2015.

According to the Department of Commerce, one reason for the slower growth was a slowdown in consumer spending.

Export growth was also slower as the strong dollar made US goods more expensive outside the country.US economic growth Q4 2015

Energy sector investment continued to plummet, with spending on mining exploration, wells and shafts down 38.7%, a slightly less dramatic fall than the 47% drop seen in Q3.

Overall, investment in the sector was down 35% in 2015, the largest drop since 1986.

Unseasonably mild weather held back some consumer spending, with another brake on growth from manufacturers who needed to run down surplus stock rather than make new goods.

Both factors are seen as temporary.

Overall, the US economy grew by 2.4% in 2015, and is expected to pick up steam to give a similar growth figure this year.

On January 27, the Federal Reserve said that growth had “slowed late last year” but that employment had picked up.

At the end of 2015, the Fed was sufficiently confident in the strength of the US economy to raise rates for the first time since 2006.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvhyhW36ybU

Getting The Most From Your Trip To Europe

Dana R
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Getting The Most From Your Trip To Europe

Antiquarium

The Munich Residenz (Wikimedia)

Travelling to Europe, wherever you go, is quite the experience. The rich history, varied multiculturalism and cuisine all make for a trip that you won’t easily forget. Like any vacation, you’re probably wondering how you can make the most of the time. There are a lot of answers I could offer here, but there are a few big things you should keep in mind for Europe. Here’s how to get the most from your trip.

First of all, look for ways to save money. As fascinating as Europe is, many of its more populated areas aren’t exactly cheap. If you’re planning on using a phone out there, then get a European SIM card. Getting a data plan for your SIM will allow you to get up maps and book excursions much easier. It will also ensure you don’t spend a fortune through your American plan. Keep an eye on the exchange rate too. Euros, pounds and Scandinavian crowns fluctuate in value pretty often. If there’s a big change before your trip, seize the opportunity. Take your time looking for hotels, too. Hotels in European cities can be horribly expensive. Check out Hotwire hotels for some pretty good deals.

If you want to hit several European locations, then travel by train or bus as opposed to flying. Although this takes a little longer, Europe has some truly stunning countryside. Europe is a big continent, and those long trips will allow you to meet some interesting characters. Hopefully there won’t be too much of a language barrier there! Travelling by train or bus is also significantly cheaper than by air, and if you book in advance you can save an absolutely incredible sum! By using train routes, you’ll also be dropped off in the centre of your final destination. This will help you avoid all the hassle of an airport, and make orientation easier once you arrive.

Finally, research the things you want to see. Having a plan that’s far too rigid can ruin the feeling of a trip. However, Europe is one of those areas where there’s things that you simply can’t miss out on. Sit down with your travelling buddy, and make a list of all the specific places you want to check out. This will help you keep the pace, and avoid any nagging regrets when you’re back on the other side of the Atlantic. If your trip is going to span the continent, you should pack light as well. Bring money rather than things. If you have timetables you need to stick to, you don’t want to be scrambling to pack everything up and risk losing something important. Keep some empty space in your cases, and you’ll have more room to fit souvenirs!

I hope these tips will help you make the most of your trip around this incredible continent. Although preparation is important for any kind of trip, don’t let it dull down your experience. Every country in Europe is full of exciting things to discover. Play things by ear every now and then. You won’t regret it!

Geometry Used by Babylonians 1,400 Years Before Greeks

James J. Williams
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Geometry Used by Babylonians 1,400 Years Before Greeks

A recent study suggests that geometry was being used by the Ancient Babylonians at least 1,400 years earlier than previously thought.

The new study, published in Science, shows that the Ancient Babylonians were using geometrical calculations to track Jupiter across the night sky.

Previously, the origins of this technique had been traced to the 14th Century.

The study’s author, Prof. Mathieu Ossendrijver, from the Humboldt University of Berlin, Germany, said: “I wasn’t expecting this. It is completely fundamental to physics, and all branches of science use this method.”

The Ancient Babylonians once lived in what is now Iraq and Syria. The civilization emerged in about 1,800 BC.Geometry ancient Babylonians

Clay tablets engraved with their Cuneiform writing system have already shown these people were advanced in astronomy.

However, this latest research shows they were also way ahead when it came to maths.

It had been thought that complex geometry was first used by scholars in Oxford and Paris in Medieval times.

They used curves to trace the position and velocity of moving objects.

Now scientists believe the Babylonians developed this technique around 350 BC.

Prof. Mathieu Ossendrijver examined five Babylonian tablets that were excavated in the 19th Century, and which are now held in the British Museum’s archives.

The script reveals that they were using four-sided shapes, called trapezoids, to calculate when Jupiter would appear in the night sky, and also the speed and distance that it travelled.

Prof. Mathieu Ossendrijver said that there was evidence that the Greeks used a “more straightforward” form geometry, which dealt with the spatial relationships between the Earth and the planets rather than the concepts of time and velocity.

Apple Recalls Millions of AC Power Plugs over Safety Concerns

Nancy Clayson
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Apple Recalls Millions of AC Power Plugs over Safety Concerns

Apple is voluntary recalling millions of its two-prong AC wall plugs after incidents of them breaking and causing electric shocks.

The tech giant said it knew of 12 such incidents and asked customers to stop using them.

The plugs came with Macs and other iOS devices sold in Continental Europe and five other countries around the world between 2003 and 2015 and were included in the Apple World Travel Adapter kit.

Apple said customer safety was its “top priority”.Apple charger recall 2016

The recall relates to plugs for: Continental Europe, Argentina, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea.

It does not affect plugs for: US, Canada, UK, Japan, China.

Affected users can exchange their plug at their local Apple store or request a replacement via the website.

In 2015, Apple urged owners of one of its Beats loudspeaker systems to stop using the kit because it posed a fire risk.

In 2014, Apple offered a free exchange for one model of USB iPhone chargers sold in Europe between 2009 and 2012, after a few cases of overheating.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJk1GyeTOXU

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